The star-studded cast includes Saoirse Ronan (Little Women, Brooklyn), Paul Mescal (Normal People) and Aaron Pierre (The Underground Railroad).
Attracted to the state through the Victorian Screen Incentive and the Regional Location Assistance Fund, Foe will inject up to $32 million into the Victorian economy.
The sci-fi psychological thriller is directed by Victorian filmmaker Garth Davis, best known for his Academy Award-nominated film, Lion.
It is based on the novel of the same name written by Ian Reid, who is a co-writer of the adaptation alongside Mr Davis.
“I am very proud to be making Foe in my home state of Victoria, particularly on Yorta Yorta country in the amazing Winton Wetlands, which is one of our key locations,” Mr Davis said.
“I am incredibly grateful for the support of both the Victorian Government and the Federal Government, which have made this possible.”
Winton Wetlands chief executive Sue Lebish said she was excited the wetlands was being utilised for the production.
“This links into one of the important objectives of the wetlands project, which is to educate and inform,” Ms Lebish said.
“Our hope is that as people become curious about the location of a movie or program they have enjoyed, some will want to learn more about Winton Wetlands — and discover its importance as an ecological restoration project and a site of cultural and historical significance.
“Anything that opens the door to people wanting to learn more can only be a good thing.
“As well as the educational and environmental dimensions, Winton Wetlands is obliged to pay its own way to the greatest extent possible too.
“When carefully managed, movies and other media productions on site can earn much-needed revenue to help us pay for the ongoing operations of the reserve, including research and breeding programs.
“There are also important benefits to the local economy, with production crews needing accommodation, local jobs being created and regional businesses enjoying spin-off benefits.”
The filming has engaged more than 500 local businesses from across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including construction companies and caterers.
Victorian Creative Industries Minister Danny Pearson said the production would showcase the Victorian film industry to the world.
“(It is) bringing our exceptional industry professionals together with some of the best international talent,” Mr Pearson said.
“We’re attracting major international productions and expanding our screen production capabilities to grow our economy, create local jobs and further assert Victoria’s position as a global screen powerhouse.”
Winton Wetlands appeals to producers for the ‘gothic’ quality evident across parts of the reserve affected by the original creation of the artificial Lake Mokoan in the 1960s, which was decommissioned in the early 2000s.
When first created, around 200,000 trees died — many of them fully grown river red gums.
With the draining of the lake and a return to natural wetland conditions, these ghostly relics (known as stags) include many Aboriginal scar trees that still stand today, having re-emerged from the lake as dead stags but with their scarring and their stories still evident.
Other productions made in part at Winton Wetlands include feature film True History of the Kelly Gang, and an ABC television series, Books That Made Us, which aired in 2021.
